Building trust is an elusive skill for most of us. Some people seem to just have a knack for building trust while others struggle. The authors discuss the various components of trust through many case studies. The best part of this book is the Trusted Advisor Formula which I've used in virtually all of my leadership classes to explain how trust can be quantitatively measured and then improved.

Written for anyone who is taking on a leadership role, especially for the first time. Michael Watkins breaks down the leadership challenge into practical lessons with self-assessments and charts. He is also not shy about pointing out the many pitfalls of leadership. This book is one of my all time favorites.

This book explores the fascinating topic of how talent is developed. For instance, why is it that the best female gymnasts come from Romania and the best chess players come from Russia? What makes an environment for talent to flourish and how can leaders build a culture which nurtures and encourages its growth?

If you are intrigued by company politics then you'll love this book. The author does not mince words about the way that power is shared unequally regardless of race, gender, talent, etc. The book has many tips on how to protect yourself from those who may wield their power against and how to recover from such incidents.

I was amazed to learn about the proof behind the benefits of being a giver at work. But how do we safeguard ourselves from takers? Adam Grant explores the concept of being a smart giver. It's taught me to be true to my nature of generously sharing everything I've learned to create opportunity for others.